Monday, 25 April 2016

So last time I went on a long journey I decided to grab a bag of scraps and stuff and do some art journaling on a lap tray in the car (I wasn't driving by the way!!!). I fully accept I might be a bit weird.... But I do get so bored on long journeys.

So this is a work in progress shot I took in the car. I literally constructed this out of bits and pieces of leftovers from other projects. A few torn strips of book page form the basis and the tags were rejects from something else (they are embossed and swiped with raw umber paint), the wings and 'believe' are also rejects (I am a bit of a hoarder...). The frame is a random one from Prima I got given and the photo is scanned from my collection of postcards.

Monday, 18 April 2016

If you love art journaling then don't miss out on stamps from Visible Image. They have some fantastic mark-making images and some amazing quotes too. Perfect for art journals!

My basis for this page is DecoArt Media paints again - my go-to product for my journals. It stamps over really well too :).

I've got a complete step-out for you today - enjoy!

1 Colour a page loosely with DecoArt Media paints - I used Primary Yellow, Cobalt Turquoise Hue and Green Gold. I mixed the paints with Tinting Base to create softer colours. Apply with a paintbrush and try not to over-mix.

2 Add some areas of 'neat' Cobalt Turquoise Hue once the first layer is dry - I used my finger for this.

3 Use the Orbital stamp to add some circles - use a permanent ink.

4 Go over the circles with white gesso to create an opaque base.

5 Colour the circles with a mix of Cadmium Red Hue and Pyrrole Orange.

6 Use a stencil (Andy Skinner) and white gesso to add more detail.

7 Re-stamp the circles again over the painted areas in black permanent ink.

8 Outline the circles with a Stabilo All pencil and blend out with water and your finger. This just adds depth and helps the circles to pop off the background.

9 Stamp the phrases into place with black ink. Add some stamping to the edges using blue ink and the Edgy stamp.

10 Add more detail with bottle lids dipped in gesso.

11 Finish the page by adding some small areas of black stenciling and smudges of black paint on the edges.

Friday, 8 April 2016

Calico Craft Parts are having a DT call and given that I love working in 3D I thought I'd give it a go! They asked me to share three projects that express who I am as a crafter. Given that in crafty terms I tend to flit from one thing to another, that isn't too easy! But these are the pieces I settled on - basically going with some of my favourites.

An altered chipboard pocket watch frame I created using a mix of die cuts and metal embellishments.

Altered sardine tin, a shrine to the wonderful Frida Kahlo

Beach diptych using chipboard and lots of stamping - love all things beach-themed!

It was hard to choose just three so went with my heart in the end. Wish me luck!

Monday, 4 April 2016

I've used simple masking to make one bulb the focal point on my card - the images at the back are stamped in grey to make the focal image pop even more. After stamping the greeting, I drew the cords on the bulbs by hand using a black marker pen.

The bulb is coloured with three shades of Distress Ink - Squeezed Lemonade, Mustard Seed and Wild Honey, getting darker in tone towards the outside. The ink is applied and blended with a wet paintbrush. I also highlighted the greeting with a quick wash of Mustard Seed ink.

I think this card is suitable for any kind of occasion where someone has made an achievement - a new job, graduation or even overcoming an obstacle in their life. This stamp is also great as it's totally gender neutral.

Sunday, 3 April 2016

Don't you love happy accidents??? The heart that's the base for this piece was just that! That fab verdigris effect was a total fluke!

I used DecoArt Media Crackle Glaze over this piece that I had treated with Treasure Gold - the Onyxite colour reacted and went green like copper verdigris! I added to the effect around the edges with DecoArt Antiquing Cream.

I had this lurking for a while before I decided to finish it up. I added a heart that I made using my 'shabby crackle' technique (there's a video tutorial for that here) but this time using DecoArt Crackle Paint (rather than paste) for a much finer crackle.The butterfly is sprayed with a DecoArt Permanent Shimmer Mister in Turquoise and the heart is edged in DecoArt Metallic Lustre in Brilliant Turquoise (this is a seriously lush colour!). I finished with a little key embellishment and am going to add some wire to hang it with.I love it when something going wrong ends up being right, don't you???Katy xsmile emoticon